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Report fraud against the department

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Our department is committed to preventing fraud impacting our roles and responsibilities. The department’s fraud control framework aims to ensure that the department can maintain high standards of service to the Australian Government and community. It is designed to protect public money and property and to protect the integrity, security and reputation of the department.

What is fraud?

Fraud in the Commonwealth environment is defined as:

'Dishonestly obtaining a benefit, or causing a loss, by deception or other means'.

In this definition, 'benefit' refers both to tangible items, such as money or objects, and intangible benefits including power, status or information.

Reporting fraud

You can provide information about suspected fraudulent or unethical behaviour impacting the department by email at reportafraud@ag.gov.au or by calling 02 6141 6666.

What information should I provide?

You may choose to remain anonymous when providing information. The more information you are able to provide in early stages of a report will assist us to look into the matter.

You are encouraged to provide:

details about the person/s involved, such as names, phone numbers, addresses, and relevant organisations

information about actions or activities you think are fraudulent, including how, when and where it occurred

your contact details.

What will happen next?

The department takes all allegations of fraud seriously. Your information will be assessed and investigated where appropriate.

The department will refer all instances of potentially serious or complex fraud offences to the Australian Federal Police. Where a matter involves offences under state or territory law, the department may refer the matter to the responsible state or territory service for investigation.

The department will endeavour to respond to your allegations, however due to privacy restrictions and/or the integrity of any investigation, feedback may not always be provided. If your allegation involves another individual, the department may not be able to give you any information about the conduct or outcome of the investigation due to the department’s obligations under the Privacy Act 1988.

Privacy statement

We will respect the confidentiality of personal information and use it only in accordance with the law. If you consider that we have breached the privacy statement, you have the right to complain to the Privacy Commissioner on 1300 363 992.

Alternatively, you can contact our department's privacy officer at privacy@ag.gov.au.